Soot cleaner operating mechanism



May 28, 1929.

F. w. LINAKER E AI; SOOT CLEANER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 25, 1923 2 Sheets-sheaf. 1

May 28, 1929. F. w. LINAKER ET AL 1,715,137

SOOT CLEANER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II IHJ Illl [III [III Patented. May 28, 1929.

1,715,131 PATIENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. LINAKER'AND THEODORE M. BRUBACK 0F IDU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

I SOOT-CLEANER-OFERATING- MECHANISM.

Application filed April 25,

This invention relates to boiler cleaners of the type having a rotatable or oscillatable tubular part, knownas the cleaner element, which projects into the boiler and has nozzles for ejecting jets of steam against or among the boiler tubes. Such cleaner elements project out through the boiler setting and are connected by a stufiing box to a steam supply pipe, a valve being applied either in said pipe or in the connection or head adjacent the stuffing box. For rotating the element, it is common either to apply a wheel on the element between the boilersetting and the stufiing box in a position to be reached, or in case of overhead cleaning elements to apply a sheave operated by a chain from beneath; or for intermittently turning the element to apply to it a ratchet wheel engaged by a pawl on alever or rocker which is suita 1y operated either directly or' through a rod or chains. A suitable. reverse-acting ratchet mechanism for this purpose is shown in our Patent No. 1,590,300, dated June 29, 1926.

It is desirable to control the admission of steam" to the element by a valve located in proximity to theentrance to the element, preferably in a connection or head to which the element is connected through the stuffing box. In such construction as the valve and element are closely adjacent, it is often preferable to provide the same operatin mechanism for turning the element and or opening or closing the valve. An example of such construction is set forth in the patent to Frederick W. Linaker, No. 1,413,601, dated April 25, 1922. In that patent a single operating mechanism may be connected at one time to turn the elementand at another time to operate the valve, or in another construction the operating mechanism is connected always to the element and is coupled to the valve at suitable times for opening and closin the valve. I

e present invention provides an improved mechanism for turning the element intermittently,-and which is adapted at the beginning of the operation to openthe valve for admitting steam to the element and upon the return movement at the end of the' operation to .close the valve and shut off the steam, the

valve operations being performed automatically; a

To these ends'the present invention provides a novel mechanism. the natureand operation of which will be developed as the de- 1923. 'Serial No. 684,524.

scription proceeds. Its preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in horizon tal section.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevatiori, looking in the op-' wards in Fig. 1, the boiler setting being in vertical section.

- Referring to thedrawings, A may be any usual boiler setting or furnace wall, B the usual bushing therein having the usual cap C, within which is mounted to turn any usual form of oscillatable or rotatable cleaner element D. The portion of this element projecting into the boiler is not shown, its construction being well understood; it is sufficient to say that it projects between or among the boiler tubes, and has along usually one side a series or row of nozzles for ejecting jets of steam to impinge against the boiler tubes and clean them of soot. As the tube is turned. these jets swing angularly and impinge on the successive surfaces, or surfaces of successive tubes, so as to clean the soot from the tubes over whatever radius is practicable. Usually the element turns from a fixed or variable starting point orposition of rest through a given are which varies with difl'erent boilers or types of boilers, and then turns back to the same starting point, or to some other position of rest.

The cleaner element D passes through a stuffing box E into a connecting piece or head F which receives steam through an inlet pipe G. The steam controlling valve is best applied within the, head F. The valve most suitable to the present invention is one of the sliding disk type. the sliding disk being carried on an arm. and the head F made large enough to accommodate the swinging movements of the valve and arm between the open and closed positions." In Fig. 2 the valve is tered .I, the valve arm bein lettered J and fixed on an oscillatory stud li, which passes out through the cap of the head and has fastened on its outer end a sector L, which has two rows of sector teeth a a. The arm J has a stop shoulder J.

A rotary driving shaft M is arranged to be driven by the operator in any suitable manner, as by being provided with a sprocket wheel or sheave N to be turned by a chain from beneath. On the hub of this wheel or on the shaft isfixed a pinion b which meshes with the sector teeth a. Another pinion b, normally loose on the shaft,'meshes with the sector teeth a. This pinion is clutched to };he shaft at certain times as will be explained ater.

The shaft M extends preferably parallel with the element D and at its rear end has a crank M which connects through a pitman or connecting rod P with a rocker frame or lever Q, which carries a double-actin pawl Q, engaging the teeth of a ratchet wieel R which is fastened on the element D, so that as the crank turns, it rocks the frame Q, and the pawl intermittently engaging the ratchet teeth pushes them in one direction or the other, and consequently rotates the ratchet R and element D intermittently in a corresponding direction.

It is needless to describe the details of the ratchet mechanism, as the one illustrated is of essentially the construction shown in our said Patent No. 1,590,300, excepting only that it has not the stops, lettered m n Z Z in that patent, for limiting the oscillations of the ratchet rocker frame, these being unnecessary in the present construction because such limitation is afforded by the throw of the crank M. Such ratchet mechanism has means for reversing the pawl Q, when the element has been turned to each extreme of its movement and it is desired to ratchet it back toward-its starting point, this means being operated through stop pins '0, each of which may be set in one or another of suitable spaced holes or sockets (Z in the wheel R, to determine the point at which the reversing movement shall occur. The stop pin acts to displace a rocker R having pinion-teeth meshing with teeth on the pawl Q. All these parts are fully illustrated and described in our said Patent No. 1,590,300.

The shaft M carries a clutch S, the purpose ofwhich is to couple the pinion b to the shaft when necessary, and to release it therefrom at other times. In the construction shown the clutch S comprises a clutch cup 0 formed on one end of a sleeve f, the other end of which is fastened to the pinion b, preferably by forming them integral. Within the cup e is a disk g, keyed on the shaft M. ()n this disk 7 is carried a pin h to which are pivoted two clutch arms z' and The arm 2', which may be called a tooth arm, is

formed with a tooth a" which is adapted to engage with a tooth 7c projecting on the inner face of thecup e. The other arm carries a roller Z which is adapted to be acted on by a coned or tapered end of a rider m to force it outward against the pull of a spring at, drawing it toward the axis. The arm j has a tail or stop arm j which may move between two stop projections 0 0 on the disk 9. The tooth arm z' is prolonged at p and its inturned end forms a stop shoulder which abuts against a stop projection g on the inner arm y, the two arms being pressed apart by a spring 1*. When the coned end of the rider m is withdrawn, the spring n draws the roller Z toward the axis, and the tooth z" clears the tooth 76; when the cone pushes out the roller Z, the arm 2' is also thrown out by its spring 1' and its tooth engages the tooth is, so that the shaft M .and sleeve f are locked together, when turning on one direction, but owing to the ratchet shape of the teeth 2" k, they may pass each other when revolving in the contrary direction.

The rider m is caused to travel along the shaft M by the latter being formed with screw-threads and the rider made as a nut. The rider has a lateral arm terminating in a roller m, which roller travels in a slot 8 in the bracket F projecting from the head F which supports the shaft M and its appurtenances. Thus asthe shaft revolves, the rider 911. is propelled in one direction or the other until stopped either at its right-hand end through the operation of the clutch and appurtenant parts, or at its left-hand end by striking a stop nut T which may be screwed along the threaded shaft and fastened thereon in any set position by a set screw. The adjustment of the nut T affords in cflect a revolution counting device and is for the purpose of variably limiting the number of revolutions which the shaft M may make in one direction.

The operation will now be explained. In the position of rest, the valve is closed, steam being shut off from the cleaner element, and the first thing to be accomplished by the operation is the opening ofthe Valve to admit steam for cleaning. To this end the operator turns the shaft M in the appropriate direction by pulling the chain hanging from the sheave N. At this time both pinions b are fast on the shaft M, and as the rotation in the direction of the arrow m in Fig. 2, the first effect is to move the sector L upward, and thereby start the valve H upward to uncover the seat I and admit steam. To fully open the valve may require several turns of the shaft; --as.the shaft turns, its crank M imparts reciprocating movements through the pitman P to the rocker Q of the ratchet,

and at each movement its pawl pushes the ratchet wheel R around the distance of one tooth (preferably about fifteen degrees),

. tinues until the lowermost tooth of the teeth a is pushed above the pinion b to the position shown in Fig.2, after which the pinion may revolve freely without aifecting the sector, so that the valve remains stationary in its open position. When the rider m reaches the-end the stop of its travel and strikes the stop nut T,.it

blocks the further rotation of the shaft and the operator then pulls the chain on the opposite side, and thereby turnsthe shaft in the opposite direction. When the pin 0 .on the wheel R strikes the rocker R, the. pawl Q is thrown over and consequentlythe further rotation of the shaft M (in either direction) ratchets the element D back towardsjits starting point. When the coned endof the rider again acts on theroller Z the tooth i is pushed out into thepath of the tooth lc-which it strikes in the course of the next revolution, and thereupon carries the cup 6 with it, so thatthe pinion b is again clutched to the shaft N. This clutching accomplishes the I starting backward of the valve, this being done by the pinion I) being in mesh with the positions to which the reverse pins 0 can be adjusted in the holes d. It results that the stop nut T may be adjusted to any suitable position corresponding to the varying arc through which the element D is turned. The adjustment of the nut T and of the stop screws '0 is made by the-ercctor in setting up the apparatus in order to turn the element the proper number of degrees according to the requirements of-the-particula1' boiler in question. When the stop T is setfully to the left in FigJl, the apparatus will turn the element D through an entire revolution; and a'lesser arc may be determined by the adjustment of nut T and the corresponding adjustments of the pawl reverse-r.. 1

The mechanism may be greatly varied within the scope of the invention, as set forth in the' sub joined claims. It willbe understood that the part m, herein called a rider,

is essentially atravelling part which is pro;

pelledin one direction or the reverse according to. the direction in which the operating or driving shaft Mis being turned, and is not limited to a part which is propelled by a screw-thread, or to one moving in astraight line; its essential function is-to operate a clutchor connecting part which controls the closing of the steam valve. as the element approaches to or reaches its final position of rest, and determines the opening movement of the valve during or preceding the contrary v prolonged portion of the sectorteeth a, so

that the sector is turned until its teeth a are engaged by the pinion b, after which the sec-f tor is turned by both pinion's (or it might be turned by either) until the valve is fully closed This completesthe operation, although the operation may be repeated if necessary to more fully accomplish the soot cleaning operation.

The purpose of the bevelling of the teeth- 71' k on one side and the provision of the two arms z and their spring r is, first, to prevent breakage in case the tooth i were to move out against the body of the tooth is, thisbeing accompanied by a yielding ofcthe toothed arm i against its spring 1'; second, to permit the shaft M to turn in the direction for opening the valve without necessarily entraining the pinion I), since in this movement the parts turn in the direction of the arrow y in Fig. 3, so that the tooth 2" simply wipes past the tooth is and snaps by it.

While it is suflicient to have one tooth 7a and.-

i' so related that when they engage, the pinion teeth I) coincide with the teeth of pinion 6; yet it is within the invention to provide a greater number of clutch teeth if desired so long as the same result is accomplished.

' The pitch of the thread on the shaft M is suitably proportioned to the number of teeth in the ratchet wheel R, and to the number of movement imparted to the element.

The mode of operation of the mechanism may be varied according to the relative setting of the stop nut T and the pawl reversing.

pins 0 0.- ;If'the construction of the boiler is such that it is desi'rable' for the element to al.- ways stop in one certain angular position, or position of rest, so that at each-operation it will start from that position, swing through a given are and return to the'same position,

then the stop pins will be set to trip or reverse the pawl at the end ofthe swinging movement, and again upon the return to the initial position; and the stop nut i will be set to stop the rotation ofthe driving shaft coincidentl-y with the tripping of the pawl at the end of the active movement. In other cases,

' however, where it is admissible for the position of rest of thecleaning element to vary after each operation, then the relative setting of the stop pins and nut will be different; in such case, for example, the-nut may first stop the rotation of thedriving shaft before the element has reached the end of its rotative travel,-so that after the operator reverses the rotation of the driving shaft, and during itsbackward movement, the ratchet action will continue to turn the element in the same direction as before, until the stop pin trips the pawl, whereupon the element will be rotated in the reverse direction orback toward its starting point, in which case it will travel through a-lesser number of degrees before it is stopped by the stopping of the driving shaft, due to the rider m reaching the end of its movement. Thus adjusted, the nozzles of the element will point in a different angular direction each time the operation is completed, so that after each operation the element is brought to a new stopping point. Thus, by

varied settings of these respective members,

the operation of the mechanism may be varied to a considerable extent in order to better adapt it to a variety of boiler constructions.

What we claim is g 1. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable boiler soot cleaner element and for controlling admission of steam thereto, comprising a rotary driving member adapted to he rotated first in one direction for a number of revolutions and then in the other direction for a number of revolutions, means operated therefrom for turning the element from an initial starting position to a final stopping position,

a valve, and automatic means for connecting the valve to said driving member-to close the valve as the cleaner elementis moved to its final stopping position and to open the. valve as the element is next moved from said position.

2. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable boiler soot cleaner element and for controlling admission of steam thereto, comprising a rotary driving member adapted to be rotated ing a rotatable boiler soot cleaner element and for controlling admission of steam thereto, compr sing a rotary driving member adapted to be rotated first in one direction for a number of revolutions and then in the other direction for a number of revolutions, means operated therefrom for turning theelement by a step by step movement first from a position of rest and then back toward said position, a valve, and automatic means for operating said valve from said driving member at the beginning and end of the movement so imparted to the element, whereby to shut off steam from the element in its position of rest and admit steam as the element is turned from such position.

4. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable boiler soot cleaner element and for controlling admission of steam thereto, comprising a rotary driving member, means operated therefrom for turning the element, a reciprocatory rider propelled by said driving just-able stop for coacting 5. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable 7o boiler soot cleaner element and for controlling admission of steam thereto, comprising a rotary driving member, means operated therefrom -for turning the element, a rider propelled by said driving with the rider to vary its travel, whereby the adjustment of said stop varies the extent of rotation of the driving member, a valve, and valve operating mechanism driven from said driving member under control of said rider.

6. A mechanism for intermittently rotating a rotatable boiler soot cleaner element and for controlling admission of steam thereto,

comprising a rotary driving member, a

ratchet mechanism reciprocated therefrom for turning the element, said mechanism being automatically reversible to rotate the element in first one direction and a valve,

then the other,

proaches a definite position of rest and disconnecting it as said member recedes from such position.

7. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable propelled by said driving member, a clutch 1 operated by said rider, a valve, and valve operating mechanism controlled by sa1d clutch.

8. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable boiler soot cleaner element, and for controlling admission of steam thereto, comprising a rotary driving member, means operated therefrom for turning the element, a r der propelled by said driving member, an ad; ustable stop for varying the travel of said rider, a clutch operate clutch.

9. The combination of claim 7, the clutch comprising mutually engaging parts, and the rider having a cam portion for determining' valve operating mechanism, and means for connecting said clutch members, comprising a, spring-pressed part movable by sa1d rlder for engaging said members. 1

11. The combination of claim 7, the clutch comprising a member connected to the dr-iving member, a cup-shapedmember connected to the valve operating mechanism and'having an internal tooth, and means forconnectin said members, comprising a spring-pressed armcarried by the former having a tooth for member, an ad- 75 and means for connectingthe valve to 90 the driving member as said member apby said rider, a valve, and 110 valve operating'mechanism controlled by sa1d engaging said tooth, and the rider having'a.

cam portion for engaging said springv pressed arm for moving it toengage said teeth.

12. The combination of claim 7, the clutch comprising a member connected to. the driving member, a cup-shaped member connected to the valve operating mechanism and having an internal tooth, and means for connecting said members, comprising two spring-pressed arms carried by the former normally movable together, the one having a tooth for engagement with said tooth, and the other adapted for engagement by said rider to move said armsto enga e said teeth, and said toothcarrying arm aving a stop engagement with said other arm,with a spring for pressingthem into such engagement, whereby said tooth carrying arm may yield to a backward movement and permit said teeth to pass each other.

13. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable boiler soot cleaner element and .for controlling admission of steam thereto, comprising a rotary driving member, means operated therefrom for turning the element, a valve, a valve-operating mechanism therefor, adapt.- ed to open and close the same, comprising a toothed rack connected to the valve, a pinion on said driving member for engagement with said rack, adapted after the opening movement of the valve to carr said rack beyond 1 engagement with the pimon, sothat further movement of the. driving member to operate the element will not move the valve, and means operable before the closing movement of the valve for starting the backward movement of said rack to bring its teeth into engagement with said pinion, whereby to effect the closing of the valve.

14. A mechanism for rotating a rotatable boilersoot cleaner element and for controlling admission of steam thereto, comprising a rotary driving member, means operated therefrom for turning the element, a valve, a valve-operating mechanism therefor adapted to open and close the same, comprising two racks connected with the valve, and two pinions connected with the driving member, the one rack travelling beyond its driving pinionand the other rack remaining in mesh with its pinion, and means for respectively contherefrom for turning the element from an initial starting position of rest to a final stopin osition a valve gearing for operatin aid v alve noi'mally cdnnected with the driv ing member and adapted to disconnect thereelement and having a connection for a source of cleaning fluid, and meansfor intermittently oscillating said element through a predetermined angle of rotation, comprising a rotary driving member adapted to be turned in either direction, an automatic reversing ratchet mechanism operated therefrom for intermittently turning the element first in one direction and then in the other over said angle of rotation, said ratchet mechanism being adapted to effect the regular to and fro traversing of said element through said angle regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotary driving member; in combination with valve mechanism for controlling the supply of fluid to said cleaner, said valve mechanism being operatively connected with said driving member.

17. A boiler soot cleaner according to claim 16, further characterized in that the said ratchet mechanism is actuated by a reciprocating connectin rod eccentrically pivoted to said rotary driving member.

18. A boiler soot cleaner according to claim 16, further characterized in that said rotary driving member is provided with stop means adapted to checkv its rotation in either direction after a predetermined number of revolutions whereby the number of oscillations of said cleaner element is controlled.

19. In a boiler soot cleaner the combination with a rotary "cleaner element of driving mechanism comprising a rotating driving member and intervening speed reducing mechanism communicating movement from the driving member to the cleaner element, and adjustable stop means determining the number of revolutions of said driving member adapted to stop the rotation of said driving member after a predetermined number 20. A mechanism'for rotating a rotatable boiler 'so'ot cleaner element and for controlling aivalve admitting steam thereto, com-- prising a rotary driving member adapted to be rotated in a series of revolutions, means operated therefrom for turning the element first in'one direction and then the other regardless of the direction of rotation of 'said rotary driving member, a valve actuating device, and automatic means adapted to o 9 eratively connect said valve actuating evice to saidjdriving member as said member aproaches a predetermined point in a certain revolution of the said series and to ,operatively disconnect said member and actuating device upon a recession of said member from said point in the series.

21. A boiler soot cleaner comprising a for a period in the reverse direction, means for compelling such change in direction, and intermedlate mechamsm etween said driving member and said cleaner elementimparting to said cleaner element a series of step by step movements while the driving memher is rotated in one direction.

22. A mechanism .for operatinga boiler cleaner element comprising an operating means for giving such element a step-bystep rotation, afluid valve, and means for openingand closing said valve operated by said operating means.

23. A mechanism for operating a boiler cleaner element comprising an operating means for giving such element a step-by-step rotation, and a reversin means'for said element actuated by sai operating means, whereby the cleaner element turns through a predetermined arc in one direction, and then in the reverse direction, a fluid valve, and means for opening and closing said valve operated by said operating means.

24. A mechanism for operating a boiler cleaner element comprising an operating means for giving such element a step-by-step rotation, a reversing means for said element actuated by said operating means, whereby the cleaner element turns through a predetermined arc in one direction, and then in the reverse direction, adjustable means for varying the degree of said are, a fluid valve, and means for opening and closing said valve operated by said operating means.

25. A mechanism for operating a boiler cleaner element comprising a means for rotating the element from afstarting position,

a fluid valve, means for opening and closing said valve, and means for adjusting the de gree of angular movement of said element from its starting position whereby the element may travel diflerent degrees of such angular movement during the open period of such valve, and a common means for actuating said-element-rotating and valve-operating means.

26. A mechanism for operating a boiler cleaner element, comprising means for giving the element an intermittent or step by step movement, a fluid valve, and means for opening and closing it, said last-named means being non-intermittent and acting to ra idly open or close the valve, and a single d dvice for operating both said means.

27. A boiler cleaner element, a valve for supplying fluid thereto, means for giving the cleaner element a slow step by step turning movement, and means for giving the valve a relatively rapid opening and closing movement, said means being connected to operate together. 1

28. A boiler cleaner element, a valve for supplying fluid thereto, means for giving the cleaner element a slow step by step turning movement, and means for giving the valve a relatively rapid opening and closing movement, said last-named means maintaining the valve open for a series of step by step movements of the cleaner, whereby in operation the valve may be quickly opened and fluid supplied to the cleaner and the cleaner intermittently turned to a predetermined extent and the valve then qu'icklyclosed, and a common means for operating said first two means.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

FREDERICK W. LINAKER. THEODORE M. BRUBACK. 

